Institut Charles Sadron Event

This thesis, which combines supramolecular and polymer chemistry, aims to develop new tools for the formation of supramolecular polymers and responsive materials. It deals with two exploratory projects having distinct objectives. The first aims to developing a method for controlling the size of supramolecular polymers, by taking advantage of the precise and controlled synthesis of covalent polymers. This objective has led us to design three new triarylamine derivatives and polymer templates with controlled dispersity. We have also studied the formation of template-triarylamine hybrids using an original method of heteroleptic terpyridine complex formation. The second project aims to develop new responsive materials based on energy ratchet systems. To achieve this goal, we have designed new polymers incorporating either crown ethers ss side chains or photochemical supramolecular pumps as chain ends. The interaction between these two polymers, combined with the movement of the pumps under light irradiation, creates a network of mechanically intertwined polymers. Working under different conditions developed during this thesis (concentration, size, ratio and irradiation time), the formation of discrete nanoparticle-like objects was observed by various microscopic and physical techniques. Keywords: Supramolecular chemistry, covalent polymers, triarylamines, molecular machines, RAFT polymerization, stimuli-responsive materials, metal complexes, out-of-equilibrium systems.